Hood latch



March 6, 1928.

' c. B. GlLMoRE:

HOOD LATCH Fileqmafoh 24. 192s 2 sheets-sheen March 6, 1928.

C. B. GILMORE HOOD LATCH Filed March 24. ,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 6, 192.8.'

4UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. GILMOBE, l0F CHICAGO,. ILLINOIS, ABSIGNOB T0 FOB-GHG &

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 'OF ILLI- :Eoon Laren.

NCIS.

Application tiled latch 24|, 1826. Serial I0. 96,938.

My invention relates to a fastening device and particularly to a device intended for use as an automobile hood latch. One object of the invention is to provide a devicewhich will be used as a hood latch and which, while lserving to4 hold the hood down and closed, will also force the hood inwardly against its abutment and willr thus hold the hood against rattling. Another object is to provide a hood latch which operates independently of variations in position of the hood. Another vobject is to provide limproved means for securing'a spring in such a latch. Another object is to provide a hood latch having means for moving it, when released, out of the path of movement of the hood and for holding it, when released, at a predetermined position out of such line of movement. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the speciicationv and claims. I Y

My invention is illustratedV more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure l is an elevation of my latch showing it in position on the automobile;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a side elevation;

Figure 4 is a top plan view;

Figure 5 is a Section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3; Y

Figure 7 is aside view of a variant form;

' Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 and Figure) is a perspective view of a part.

Like parts are designated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

A is a portion of an automobile frame to which may be secured an upstanding rib or abutment member A1, against which abuts the lower edge B1L of the hood B, when the hood is closed. Fastened to the hood B is a. member generally designated as B2- which includes a downwardlyand outwardly inclined cam portion B3, upwardly and outwardly inclined prongs B4 separated for example by the notch B5, a central securing portion B and a downwardly and inwardly bers C4 turned bottom portion B7. B8 are any suitable securing members.

C is Iany suitable shaft or pin terminating at the bottom in the squared head C1, which may, but need not be integral. C2 generally indicates a base member havin the frame engagmg securing portions 3, through which may pass any suitable securing memand the intermediate raised portion formed by the upwardlyand inwardly in- A clinedtop member C5 and the generally vertical slde walls C6. C7 is a downwardly concave generally spherical llangefsurrounding the aperture C8 through which passes the Apin C. C is an upwardly projecting flange along the inner edge of the top portion The size of the aperture C8, in relation to the pin C and the head C1 is such as to permit a considerable movement of the latch,

but to limit this movement to a predeter-` mined maximum swing away from the closure, for example to the position shownin dotted line in Figure 3.

The latch body proper consists of the cylindrical member D herein shown as rolled from a single blank and with a single axialseam D1. About the bottom of the cylinder are a plurality of ears D2 adapted to be inwardly turned, as shown for example in Figure 2 to engage and secure the washer Dffloose on the shaft C. Intermediate the ends of the cylinder, and preferably formed integral with it, is the outwardly projecting portion D4. The top of the'cylinder may be.

open but is provided with a rear abutment wall D5 and is cut away at the opposite side 4as at D6. D7 is aspiral spring adapted to be compressed between the washer D3 and -an opposed washer or abutment D8 at the top of the pin C.

E generally indicates a cam member adapted to engave the opposed cam member B". The lower inwardly turned portion E1 penetrates and is seated within a ledge or projection D4.. The upper portion E2 conforms to the inner side of the cylinder D and crosses its top, seat-ing in the notch D and abutting against the wall D5. It is provided with downwardly turned ears E3 which engage the inner face of the upper portion of the cylinder D, to which they may be spot welded to hold the entire member E locked in position.

G generally indicates a handle member including the hand piece G1 the intermediate portion G2, and the T-shaped portion Grs the arms G* of which are adapted to engage the inner sides of the lingers B when t e T is ositioned in the intermediate aperture B5 o the securing member B1. G5 is any suitable securing means for securing the hand piece G to the upper portion of the member E.

Referring to Figures 7 and lfollowing, a

variant form of securing member is em-I .ployed including the frame engaging members H, the securing members H1, the intermediate raised portion I-I2 perforated at Hs and provided with vertical side walls H1. Interposed between the top portion H3 and the squared end C1 of the pin is the rolling contact member H, shown in detail in Figure 9, centrally apertured as at H1 provided with the upwardly convex transversely aligned rockin abutment members H8 and the downwar ly convex aligned rocking abutments H9 at right angles thereto. The upper top member H2 is shown as horizontal but obviousl it ma if desired be upwardly and inwar ly inc ined. The cylindrical member D has a downwardly projecting lug K.

In the form indicated in Figure 7 in the place of the sheet metal cam portion E with a separate hand piece, I provide a unit easting generally indicated as J having the upper handle portion J1, the finger piece J2, the plug J s adapted to penetrate the top -of the cylinder `D, the outwardly projecting T or hook portion J 4, the intermediate'portion J 5, the upwardly and outwardly inclined cam portion J6 and the anchor portion JT adapted to penetrate within the outwardly projeetin member D.

It will e realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device andseveral modifications thereof that 'many changes might be made in the size,

shape, disposition and number of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and that I wish my drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing herein.

The use and operation of my invention'are as follows:

When the closure or hood is lowered into position with its lower edge abutting against the exterior of the flange A1, I lift the latch against the pressure of the spring,

engage the T with the hook on the closure, and release the latch. The engagement of the T and hook holds the latch in generally vertical position and prevents it from swinging outwardly away from the closure. The compression of the spring thrusts the cam 'ures 7 and following.

E on the latch against the downwardly and outwardly inclined cam blank onthe hood and the result is a camng action which d1- lre'cts and maintains a pressure both downwardly and inwardl against the lower edge of the closure. T us the closure is not merely thrust downwardly toward the frame member A but inwardly against the abutment A1.

Vhen the hood or closure is to be released, the latch is raised by the operator, the locking cam portion E is lifted from engagement with the opposed cam member on the closure, and the T is removed from engagement with the hooks B. When the latch is then released for downward movement along the pin C in response to the expansion of the spring D", the lower edge of the member D engages the flange C, 1n the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and i n response to the further expansion of the spring the latch is moved ositively outwardly from the closure, to ta e the position shown in dotted line in Figure 3. Thus the spring D7 not only moves the latch ositivel outwardly away from the closure, ut hol s it in a predetermined outward position, determined by the relative size of the aperture C8, the pin C andthe head C1.

It will thus appear that the latch is normally held withdrawn when the closure is released since the spring D1 is suflicient to hold the member D downwardly against the base member generally indicated as C2 in Figures l, 2 and` 3, or the members H and the intermediate raised portion H2 of Fig- 'Obviously other means and shapes of opposed members may be employed to obtain the sameeect, it being essentlal that the opposed bottom of the member D and the base portion to which it is opposed must be so shaped that the latch will swing outwardly in response to the expansion of the spring D7 or, if desired, in response to gravity, 1f a somewhat shorter spring is used. Thus the release of the latch, after it has been withdrawn from holding connection with the closure, is sufiicient to cause or permit the outward movement of the latch and the latch is held at the outward limit of its movement, the location of its outward limit being determined, for example, by the size and form of the opposed parts.

Not only do I provi-de a simple and firm means for securing the hood in place, but I obtain positive freedom from rattling, because of the combined downward and inward thrust exerted as a result of the cam engagement.

In order to hold the latch normally withdrawn when the closure is released I position an upwardly rejecting flange Co on the base member CE, or a downwardly depending member K on the latch cylinder, as

shown in Figure 7. Thus when the latch is released, the spiral spring thrusts it downwardly along the stem C and in either form the engagement of the member C or K with the base or the cylinder respectively is suicient to cause the latch to fall outwardly away from the closure.

My latch is peculiarly easy to make and assemble since it is blanked out of a single blank, which is rolled into an open ended single seamed cylinder. 'I may employ simply applied handle and` cam members either of strip stock or cast.

I have reduced to a minimum the friction between the stem and its bottom and the socket or base member about which it gyrates. Rotation of the stem isv revented, with a consequent reduction of friction and wear. I prefer to employ a rolling contact z between the base member C2 and the bottom C1 of the stem C. By squaring the head C1 and positioning it between the vertical walls C6 C", I prevent the wear causing rotation. By leaving an aperture of suflicient. cross section in the plate '-C5, I insure agrange of gyration suiiicient to permit the latch to be swung awa from the closure or to swing longitudinally with the closure to compensate for longitudinal shifting of closure in relation to latch. The rolling contact may be obtained in a multiplicity of ways and I do not wish to be limited to the specific methods herein shown. However I nd that one advantageous method is to provide a downwardly convex portion aboutthe cen-- tral aperture C8 of the plate C5. The stem can gyrate freely, and as it gyrates it rolls across such convex projection. In the form of Figure 7 I insert an additional wear taking member which has downwardly convex` rolling portions H9 H9 along one plane and upwardly convex rolling portions Hs H8 along a plane at right angles thereto. The result is that no matter in what direction the stem may gyrate the wear and compression taking contact at the bottom of the stem is always a rolling or rocking contact as contrasted to a sliding Contact.

A further eli'ect of the use of the spring D7 is to draw the latch D downwardly either against the top of the pin C or against thel stop C9 in such fashion as to reduce the ease with which the latch D can be rotated in relation to the pin C. The result is that the latch has a strong tendency to remain in the position in which it is set, so far as relates to the direction of the T lug toward the latch. rIhis is of great convenience, in holding the linger piece or handle in the proper position for a direct lift upon the latch in order .to drop the T lug between the members B4.

I claim: j

l. In combination with a closure, a latch member, a stem upon which said latch member is slidably mounted, a base upon which said stem is positioned adjacent said closure, yielding means normally thrusting said latch member downwardly toward said base, and a universal rolling connection between th-e bottom of the stem and said base.

2. In combination with a closure, a latch member, a stem upon which said latch member is slidably mounted, a base upon which said stem is positioned adjacent said closure, yielding means normally thrusting said latch member downwardly toward said base, a universal rolling connection between the bottom of the stem and said base, including in part a squared member at the bottom of said stem, a perforated plate through which the stem passes and a downwardly projecting convex portion about theperforation.

3. In combination with a closure, a latch member, a stem upon which said latch member is slidablys mounted. a base member for said stem positioned adjacent said closure, yielding means vnormally thrusting said latch member downwardly toward said base member, and a universal rocking connection between said stem and said base member, said stem being held at all positions against rotation in relation to said base member.

4. In combination with a closure, a latch member, a stem upon which said latch member is slidably mounted, a base member for said stem positioned adjacent said closure, yielding means normally thrusting said latch member downwardly toward said base member, and a universal rocking connection betweensaid stem and said base member, said stem being held against rotation in relation to said base member, including a perforated plate through which the stem passes. a downwardly projecting convex portion about such perforation, a squared laterally extended end portion on said stem. and wall members, associated with said plate and adapted to engage opposed edges ot said squared portion.

5. In combination with a closure, a .latch member, a stem upon which said latch meinber is slidably mounted, a base member for said stem positioned adjacent said closure, yielding means normally thrusting said latch member downwardly toward said base'member, and a universal rocking connection between said stem and said base member. said stem being held against rotation in relation to said base member, including a perforated plate through which the stem passes. a squared laterally extended end portion on said stem, wall members, associated with said plate and adapted to engage opposed edges of said squared portion, and a rockin;r member interposed between said plate and said squared portion.

6. In combination with a closure, a latch member, a stem upon which said latch memyielding means normally thrusting said latch member downwardly toward said base member, a universal rocking connection between said stem and said base member, said stem being held against rotation in relation to said base member, including a perforated plate through which the stein passes, a squared laterally extendedend portion on said stem, wall members,associated with said plate and adapted to engage opposed edges of said squared portion, and a rocking member interposed between said plate and said squared portion, said rocking member havingl upwardly convex portions lying along one plane and downwardly inclined portions lying along another plane at right angles thereto.

7. In combination with a closure, a latch member, astem upon which said latch member is slidably mounted, a base member for said stem positioned adjacent said closure, yielding means normally thrusting said latch member downwardly toward said base member, and a universal rocking connection between said stem and said base member, adapted to permit a gyratory motion of the stem, and to prevent rotation of the stem about its axis.

8. In combination with a closure having an engageable portion, a fastener anchored adjacent' said closure, a base member to which said fastener is anchored, the engaging portions of said base member and fastener being shaped to permit a gyratory motion and a rolling contact therebetween in any radial plane.

9. Inan automobile hood latch, a stem and securing means for the bottom thereof, a

latchmovable along said stem, said latch including a tubular body portion, a spiral @ringo-compressed between said stem and said dy portion,-and a closure engagln member secured to said body portion, said body (psortion being apertured intermediate its en to receive the lower portion of said closure engaging member, the upper portion of said member being positively secured to the upper end of the-tube.

10. In an automobile hood latch, a stem and securing means for the bottom thereof, a latch movable alon said stem, said latch including a tubular sprin compressed between said stem and said ody portion, and acombined closure enga g and handle member secured to said dy portion, said bodyi portion being pertured mtermediate its ends to receive e lower portion of said combined closure engaging and handle member, the upper portion thereof being` positively secured adjacent the upper end of the tube.

11. In an automobile hood latch, a stem adapted to be positioned adjacent the hood, a base member for the bottom thereof, a latch member movable along said stem and dy portion, a spiralv yielding means for normally thrusting it downwardly therealong, and a universal rolling contact between the bottom of the stem and the base member to which it is secured, including in part a downwardly convex portion associated with said base member and a laterally extended member, associated with said stem, in rolling contact therewith.

12. In an automobile hood latch, a stem adapted to be positioned adjacent the hood, a base member for the bottom thereof, a latch member movable alon said stem and yielding means for norma y thrustin it downwardly therealong, a universal ro ing contact between the bottom of the stem and the base member to which it is secured, ncluding in part a downwardly convex spherical portion associated with said base member, such base member being perforated concentrically with such spherical portion to permit the passage of said stem, and a laterally extended member', associated with saidstem, in rolling contact with said spherical portion.

' 13. In'an automobile hood latch a stem adapted to be positioned adjacent the hood,

'a base member for the bottom thereof, a

latch member movable along said stem and yielding means for normally thrustin it downwardly therealong, a universal ro g contact between the bottom of the stem and the base member to which it is secured, including in part a laterally extended member associated with said stem, the base member being perforated to permit the passage of said stem, and an intermediate member in rolling contact with the lower side of the basefmember and the upper` side of said laterally extended member.

14. In combination with a closure, a latch for said closure, including in part an anchoring element associated with said latch, a base for said latch adjacent said closure and gyral rocking means intermediate said base and anchoring element,

15. In combination with a closure, a latch a base member positioned ad'acent said closure, means adapted to permit a limited gyratory movement of one end of said latch, and means adapted to provide a rocking connection between said latch and said base member inl any plane of the gyratiorf of said latch.

16. In combination with a closure, a latch, a base for said latch mounted adjacent said closure, astem upon which said latch is sure against, the closure while in engage.- ment therewith, and being adapted to permit a limited relative movement of closure and latch, during locking engagement.

18. In combination with a closure, a latch assembly'including a latch member and a base to which it is secured, said base being mounted adjacent the closure, and means, i11- cluding a spring associated directly with the l latch assembly, adapted to withdraw said latch member, when released, outwardly from the closure and to hold it withdrawn,

and means for limiting such withdrawal to a predetermined position.

19. In combination with a closure, a latch assembly including a latch member and a base to which it is secured, said base being mounted adjacent the closure, and means,`

including a spring associated directly with the latch assembly and an abutment member, between latch and base, adapted to withdraw said latch member, when released, outwardly and means for limiting such withdrawal to a predetermined position. f

20. In combination with a closure, a. latch assembly Aincluding a latch member and a base to which it is secured, said base being mounted adjacent the closure, and means, including a spring associated directly with the latch assembly, adapted to withdraw said latch member, when released, outwardly from the closure and to hold it withdrawn, the latch member and basebeing provided with opposed contacting surfaces adapted, in response to the action of said spring, to hold said latch in outwardly tilted position away from said closure and out vof the normal line of movement thereof.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 20th day of March, 1926.

CHARLES B. GILMORE. 

